Call to make sunscreen lotion free

Tambirai Maruta

THE Zimbabwe Albino Association (ZIMAS) projects officer, Kudakwashe Machiha, has appealed to the Government to make sunscreen lotion free for people living with albinism.

Machiha said sunscreens were not cosmetics for people with albinism, but a necessity, and the Government should help avail them as essentials.

“Government should understand the plight of people with albinism and must subsidise sunscreen lotions to make them available for every person with albinism, just as treatment for HIV/Aids is accessible and free,” he said.

Rukudzo Dambiranwa, who is living with albinism, said special attention should be given towards highlighting challenges affecting people with albinism.

“Sunscreen lotions are scarce and expensive, such that most of the time I end up using any type of lotion that I can find,” she said.

Rukudzo said besides affordable sunscreens, people with albinism also need assistance in acquiring prescribed spectacles since most of them suffer from poor eyesight.

“There is need to source spectacles for us to be able to read and see clearly. A number of people with albinism also fear for their mental health due to the discrimination they face in society.”

A clinical psychologist, Takudzwa Maruta, emphasised the importance of spreading awareness on the risks of mental health issues people with albinism face.

“Focusing on people living with albinism and their mental health promotes emotional intelligence, which means being able to sympathise and understand each other to prevent discrimination,” said Maruta.